BEDJ #4 | The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon.

"Paige Mahoney has escaped the brutal penal colony of Sheol I, but her problems have only just begun: many of the fugitives are still missing and she is the most wanted person in London.

As Scion turns its all-seeing eye on Paige, the mime-lords and mime-queens of the city's gangs are invited to a rare meeting of the Unnatural Assembly. Jaxon Hall and his Seven Seals prepare to take centre stage, but there are bitter fault lines running through the clairvoyant community and dark secrets around every corner.

The the Rephaim begin crawling out from the shadows. But where is Warden? Paige must keep moving, from Seven Dials to Grub Street to the secret catacombs of Camden, until the fate of the underworld can be decided. Will Paige know who to trust? The hunt for the Dreamwalker is on." (synopsis and picture from (x)


From the get-go I knew this book would take a different direction to the first one - in fact this seems to be Shannon's favourite thing to do: change the direction of the whole story at the very end. But it worked, and I really liked it.

Paige has escaped Sheol I. Her, along with a small number of other clairvoyants have made it back to London. But things don't go back to normal. No, instead Scion puts every effort into ensuring Paige is found. And she herself can't go back to the normality of the gangs. People need to be warned about the Rephaim. And she's the only one who can do anything about it.

Like I mentioned before, I didn't really know where this book would go. It worried me initially, but I think Shannon successfully pulled off progression of both the story, and the characters.

This is seen primarily in Paige herself. After spending time in the harsh conditions of Sheol I, she doesn't know how she fits back into the general scheme of things. Instead of becoming a wallflower and passive, she really comes into her own. She is a character that shouldn't be reckoned with. While she has a few stumbles along the way, she knows what's right and pushes herself to ensure it remains that way. I love Paige as a main character. In this book, we see a new side to her - a more ruthless side. It's fantastic.

The dynamics of Paige's relationship with Warden also change. In the first book, there is a clear line they shouldn't cross. In The Mime Order, that's not necessarily a thing anymore. The tension is at an all time high. I won't lie, there was a few moments of furious blushing on my part.

Shannon also did a wonderful job at rebuilding the world of Scion London. Unfortunately, we don't see a lot of it in the first book. As a result, the author has to remind us what it's all about, and then develop it more. She does a fantastic job at it. The descriptions of London are vivid and the little details she brings to the city make it all the more realistic.

The writing has also improved. My reservations from the first book have disappeared in this one. I really liked and appreciated it.

My only problem with The Mime Order is the pacing. For the most part, it's good. There is a little bit of inconsistency though. Understandably, the novel takes a while to gain momentum. New settings always do this. Once it does, however, it's like nothing can stop it. I felt compelled to continue reading.

This book is a bit of an oddball because it feels like not a lot happens, but a lot actually does. It's just not of the action-battle variety. Instead, it's quiet and creeps up on you. It's incredible because the author has all these little threads of side-plots that you don't think much of, but Shannon then turns around and makes it into a much bigger, more important thing later on. It's fantastic.

Overall, a great follow-up to The Bone Season. If you weren't sure about continuing the series, I think this book is proof that a lot is going to happen, and you really should. I'm very happily going to go along for the ride. 4 stars.

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Publisher: Bloomsbury Australia

Publication Date: 27th January 2015

Goodreads | Samantha Shannon's Website | Twitter

Want to buy this book? You can get it here:

Book Depository | Fishpond | Bookworld | Amazon

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury providing me with an e-ARC.

This review will also appear on Book Nerd Reviews

Video | The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon.

Book Review | The Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton.

"Magical realism, lyrical rose, and the pain and passion of human love haunt this hypnotic generational saga.

Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava - in all other ways a normal girl - is born with the wings of a bird.

In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen-year old Ava ventures into the wider world, ill-prepared for what she might discover and naive to the twisted motives of others. Others like the pious Nathaniel Sorrows, who mistakes Ava for an angel and whose obsession with her grows until the night of the Summer Solstice celebration.

That night, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air, and Ava's quest and her family's saga build to a devastating crescendo.

First-time author Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human." (synopsis and picture from (x).

This book is kind of intensely amazing.

Before I bought this book, all I'd heard about it was that it was magical realism and that it had the most gorgeous prose ever. Both of these things happened to be true. The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender is quite unlike anything I've ever read. So, to pass it on, this is all I'm going to tell you about the story (let's just disregard that I gave you a summary a couple sentences up, yes?)

Before I begin this review though, I just need to give a PSA about this book. The title and the blurb are a little deceiving. While yes, Ava Lavender is a character and narrator in the book, she certainly isn't the focal point. The book itself looks at her whole family - all the way from her great-grandmother to herself.

Ok, now onto the actual review.

As I mentioned above, the book has insanely gorgeous writing. It completely sucks you in. There is such a tragic tone to it. If the title doesn't give you the idea that this book is sad, the writing certainly will.

Speaking of which, this is a sad, sad book. Like, if you don't deal with death very well, do not read this book. I think that because there's so much, it gives off the impression that the book shouldn't be classified as YA.

Also because of this, the book comes off as very dark. It definitely isn't one of those light reads for the summer. Because of the magical realism elements, the author allowed herself to play around with the darker moments of the story (like all the deaths). I was browsing the review section in GoodReads and I saw someone say that the book is a throwback to the traditional fairytales, and I completely agree.

It was strangely wonderful.

My one and only problem with the book is that I feel a slight disconnect from it. Let me explain. While I was certainly engaged in the story line, I found myself not feeling for the characters. It was as if there was a barrier between myself and them. I only really start feeling for them in the last few pages.

Perhaps this was done on purpose - I'm not sure. In traditional fairytales, you never totally feel for the characters - they're just a device in which a moral is told. Unfortunately however, it did really detract from the novel for me.

Overall though, this is a thoroughly unique read. It's quite like nothing else I've read this year. 4 stars.

Rating: **** (4 Stars)

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

Publication Date: March 27th 2014

Goodreads | Leslye Walton's Website | Twitter

Want to buy the book? You can get it here:

Book Depository | Fishpond | Bookworld | Amazon

This review will also appear on Book Nerd Reviews

Book Review | Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas.

"Lost and broken, Celaena Sardothien's only thought is to avenge the savage death of her dearest friend: as the King of Adarlan's Assassin, she is bound to serve this tyrant, but he will pay for what he did. Any hope Celaena has of destroying the king lies in answers to be found in Wendlyn. Sacrificing his future, Chaol, the Captain of the King's Guard, has sent Celaena there to protect her, but her darkest demons lay in that same place. If she can overcome them, she will be Adarlan's biggest threat - and his own toughest enemy.

While Celaena learns of her true destiny, and the eyes of Erilea are on Wendlyn, a brutal and beastly force is preparing to take the skies. Will Celaena find the strength not only to win her own battles, but to fight a war that could pit her loyalties to her own people against those she has grown to love?

This third novel in the Throne of Glass sequence, from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J Maas, is packed with more heart-stopping action, devastating drama and swoonsome romance, and introduces some fierce new heroines to love and hate." (synopsis from NetGalley)

I have been fondly referring to this book as the 'second round of set-up' for the Throne of Glass series. Surprisingly, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Celaena Sardothien is back, and she's mourning the loss of her closest friend. Ordered across the seas, she now has a new mission. Before she can do anything, someone finds her first. Someone she'd hoped she'd never meet.

Look, if we're being totally honest, I was weary with how this series was going to progress (given that Celaena is now on another continent and things are suddenly spread across seas and whatnot). This was undoubtably a new direction, and I worried that it wouldn't live up to my expectations (which, admittedly, are really, really high). Given this, Heir of Fire was done really well.

I only really had two issues with the book. One: the pacing. Heir of Fire was a little slower than it's predecessors. Given that Maas had to create this new continent (which she did exceptionally well, mind you) and the story's new direction, this was to be expected. It took its time in ramping up the speed. Still, it was slow. However, around halfway through, things really started to pick up. I found myself prioritising reading the novel over doing uni work (this happens often, but for context, I was reading this when I had six assignments due in a two week period).

My other issue is a really, really minor one: Manon Blackbeak. It's not that I hate her. It's not even that I dislike her. I just haven't entirely warmed up to her yet. It'll happen. Just not right now.

Now, the good things (and brace yourself, because there's a lot).

As you all very well know, Celaena Sardothien is my absolute-favourite-character-in-the-entire-world. I am ridiculously protective of her. She's a bad-ass with all the assassin-y skills. But you know what else she really enjoys? Shopping. Pampering herself. She is my favourite. In this novel, she was as great as ever. Admittedly, in the beginning I found her moping a little irritating. But then I got it - in this instalment, we see Celaena's vulnerability at an all time peak. Further development of the greatest character ever? I think yes.

Of the original characters, I think they were developed further, and it was great seeing what was happening back in Adarlan. My heart is a little crushed. I won't say why because *spoilers*

Of most of the new characters, I got very quickly invested. Particularly so in Aedion (who I found had some very similar parallels to Celaena - unsurprising, I suppose) and Rowan (who I think has a wonderful dynamic with her). And before you ask, no. No, I don't ship Rowan and Celaena. That relationship is purely platonic in my eyes.

As I mentioned before, Maas did a wonderful job with the new world of Wendlyn. Superb. Also, DRAGONS. They're coming. (Well, wyverns. But I've looked it up. They're pretty much the same thing).

I am so fricking keen to see where this series is going. Maas didn't exactly leave us on a cliffhanger in the normal sense. Nothing happened suddenly in the last pages. It's more of a cliffhanger of anticipation for the rest of the series.

Basically: Buy it the day it comes out. Then we can actually talk.

Rating: **** (4 Stars)

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Publication Date: September 11th 2014

Goodreads | Sarah J Maas' Twitter | Sarah J Maas' Website

Want to buy it? You can get it here:

Book Depository | Fishpond | Bookworld | Amazon

Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC

Book Review | Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins.

"The cafe is boiling. The atmosphere is clouded with bittersweet coffee. Three years of desire rip through my body and burst from my lips: "Josh!" 
His head jolts up. For a long time, a very long time, he just stares at me. 
And then...he blinks. "Isla?"

Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on brooding artist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And, after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer break, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to face uncertainty about their futures, and the very real possibility of being apart.

Set against the stunning backdrops of New York, Paris and Barcelona, this is a gorgeous, heart-wrenching and irresistible story of true love, and the perfect conclusion to Stephanie Perkins's beloved series." (synopsis from (x)

The time has come, my friends. Isla and the Happily Ever After has finally been released (or, more rather, it finally arrived), and I am here to review it for you.

The first thing you'll notice about this book is that it is different to Anna and Lola. It's different in main character, in tone, in plot. Do not go into this novel expecting something similar to the prior two books. It isn't.

But I think it works.

The things I liked: the characters. This is a no-brainer, because Stephanie Perkins does character and she does it really, really well. Both Josh and Isla become multi-faceted and we see both the flaws and virtues of their characters develop throughout the novel.

I'll start with Isla. Islaislaisla. She's the main character in this little happily ever after (see what I did there?). I don't know why, but I have an unusually high affinity for this girl. This doesn't happen a lot for me. The last time I understood and felt for a character so wholly was Allyson from Just One Day. And no, it's not just because she's a redhead and I'm a redhead. Isla feels like a representation of a younger high-school-attending me.

Where Anna and Lola are sure of who they are as people, and where they want to go in life, Isla is different. She has insecurities - big ones. She's terrified of the future, because she doesn't know where she's going. She's shy. She doesn't like taking risks. Isla got to me in a way I never expected. I loved her (but I was also a little freaked out because I was so similar to her, it's scary).

Josh. Josh made me want a boyfriend. No, let me rephrase that (because let's be real here, I'm always wanting a boyfriend). Josh has made me rethink my stance of being on Team Cricket. I really liked that we got to see a different side to him in Isla. He is adorable. Now, I'm torn between the two, so poo you.

The two together were adorable. Very often, I found myself thinking 'Oh my gosh, you nerds. Stop it, I love you.' There are just a lot of very sweet moments in this book. Another way this book is different? There are some more explicit moments, so you know. Be aware of that. Because it took me by surprise.

Setting, as always, was done to perfection. I loved being back in Paris, and loved being (however briefly) in Barcelona even more. I wished we'd seen more of New York, but obviously, Europe was the place to be.

My main problem with the novel was the placement of conflict. Like I've mentioned a lot, Perkins doesn't keep to the similar formula she uses in Anna and Lola. It sent me into a bit of a loop. Why? Because instead of being one of the first things we're introduced to, it doesn't become a *thing* until we're on the other side of the halfway mark.

I guess it'd be easy to argue that Isla's insecurities are in fact, the conflict, but they're not really present until the *big thing* happens. But because of this, it felt like there wasn't actually much of a conflict. It isn't a huge issue, it's just messing with my mind a bit.

We do get to see some of Cricket and Lola, and Anna and Etienne. However, it is very, very brief. And something happens. But I'm not saying what, because that would be cheating.

Overall, a very sweet final companion novel. Isla, I love. Josh, I love. Conflict placement, not so much. 4 stars.

Rating: **** (4 Stars)

Publisher: Usborne 

Publication Date: 14th August 2014 (or, if you're from Australia, sometime in September)

Goodreads | Stephanie Perkins Website | Twitter

Want to buy it? You can get it here:

Book Depository | Fishpond | Bookworld | Amazon

This review will also appear on Book Nerd Reviews.

Book Review | We Were Liars by E. Lockhart.

There are three things I urge you to do going into this book.

One: Come in with as little knowledge about the plot as possible.

Two: Come in with as few expectations as possible.

Three: Experience the book. Do not try to deliberate or uncover why things happen the way they do.

For these reasons, and these reasons alone, I have included  no synopsis (even if the synopsis itself is really vague).

First things first (I'm the realest)*, the things I loved.

The writing is pretty spectacular. If you need any reason to read this, read it for the writing. It's haunting. It's gorgeous. It's so goddamn poetic. I actually get flustered when I think about the writing in this. I know by typing this, I'm disregarding Rule #2 entirely, but the writing is the highlight of the book for me.

In fact, I'd argue that the writing is what really propels the story. We Were Liars is not a huge book. It's only about 240 pages. But on a technical level, there isn't a huge amount of plot development. Nevertheless, the writing makes it wickedly compelling. This is kind of unique in situation, but it really works for the tone of the novel.

Likewise, it's only a small novel, but it really packs a punch. Especially that ending. This is where Rule #3 comes in. Don't try and guess, otherwise the whole effect of the book will be ruined. You'll be a little heartbroken but, after much consideration, it will make sense. I promise.

I also really liked the characters? They were just generally fascinating and multi-faceted people, that were really interesting to read about.

If I had to give the book one critique, it would be this. Especially at the beginning, I found myself confused. Most of the characters were introduced at once, and this left me grasping at straws. It took me a while to get that this character was apart of that family, while another character was that other family.

Overall, however We Were Liars is a fantastic read. Easily up there in my top 2014 books so far. It's just a book you really need to experience. 4 stars.

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication Date: 1st of August 2014

Goodreads | E. Lockhart's Twitter | E. Lockhart's Website

Want to buy this book? You can get it here:

Book Depository | Fishpond | Amazon | Bookworld

Thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing me with an ARC

*sorry, for reasons unknown, I can now no longer say 'first things first' without that bloody song popping into my head. it's a problem. 

Book Review | Side Effects May Vary.

"What if you'd been living your life as if you were dying - only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you?

When sixteen year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukaemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximise the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs - however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, whom she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that's as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her arch nemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger and reliving some childhood memories). But just when Alice's scores are settled, she goes into remission.

Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she's said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she done irreparable damage to the people around her, and to the one person who matters most?

Julie Murphy's Side Effects May Vary is a fearless and moving tour de force about love, life, and facing your own mortality." (synopsis from (x)

Side Effects May Vary has caused quite the stir in the YA blogger community, and understandably so. Unsympathetic main characters can tend to do that. Because of this, I came into the book with mixed expectations. I've left it with exactly the same impression.

Side Effects May Vary starts with Alice, a sixteen year old girl, finding out that her terminal cancer has in fact, disappeared. This should make her thrilled, and ecstatic, but instead makes her worried. Why? Because she made a bucket list and on it, there were just as many paybacks, pieces of revenge, and humiliations as there were good things.

Ok, so the good stuff. Loved, loved, loved the writing. Really well done, and the author did a great job at creating distinct enough voices (and characters) that I knew who was talking without any chapter header help (the novel switches back and forth between Alice and Harvey's perspective).

I also found the pacing really well done. I mean, I'm a fast reader by normal standards, but I read this really quickly by my standards. Two days. I ignored all my schoolwork to read this. I just couldn't stop. I was a little obsessed. I think the author had the right idea in switching between past and present. It just made the story flow a lot better and kept me well interested. The switching between narrators also was really well done.

The plot itself was really ingenious? Like, I know how stupid that sounds, but it's just a really interesting plot. I like that it made me think, 'If I were in that situation, would I act the exact same way?' It's just something you would've thought had been done before, but in fact, hasn't.

Now, for a bit of controversy. I actually didn't really have an issue with Alice. She's wholly unsympathetic, yes. Very little character development, yes. But I didn't hate her. In fact, on some levels, I even understood her? Particularly on the 'what do I do now that I don't have cancer and I do have a future?' I think people who are about to graduate (whether that be high school or uni or college) will have this similar feeling of helplessness and confusion. I liked that. Ok, controversial opinion over.

I do have a few fiddly issues with Side Effects May Vary though. The biggest one being the most obvious one: the relationship between Harvey and Alice. I just, I'm not sold on it. I feel really conflicted about it. I don't think I should root for it, just because Alice treats Harvey so terribly. I can't tell whether the author is pushing on us to root for it or not, but I can't get behind it. I just can't. I like Alice, but I can't say this relationship is healthy on any level.

The other con really is just very fiddly. I wanted to see more of the adventures Alice and Harvey got up to with her bucket list. I just wish we'd seen more of them. I would've loved it.

Overall, a really strong debut. Controversial? Definitely. Illuminating? A little. Conflicting? Most certainly. I really needed time to reflect on what rating I wanted to give this book. If we're rating based off the relationship alone, I'm more inclined to give this book a 2.5. Luckily though, it isn't the be all and end all. 4 stars.

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

Date of Publication: March 26th 2014

Goodreads | Julie Murphy's Twitter | Julie Murphy's Website

Want to buy this book? You can get it here:

Book Depository | Amazon | Fishpond | BookWorld

Thank you to Penguin Australia and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC